Merry Christmas from Chief

Chief and I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

May Santa bring you all the bones and squeaky toys your hearts desire (a personal note from Chief).

Happy Holidays

Hey, Mom..Is That My New Toy???

Just a Swingin'

In Sensory Integration treatment (SI) for children with sensory processing dysfunction, we often use swinging on different mediums as ways to stimulate the vestibular-proprioceptive system. Vestibular processing gives our central nervous system information about our position in space, balance, and postural control. Often, children who have difficulty with vestibular processing have low muscle tone throughout their body, which means their overall endurance is low for activity (although strength for short duration muscle activity may be adequate). We often use swings, such as this platform swing, in SI to address these areas of function. The child may be positioned in standing/sitting/quadruped on the swing and the swing moved in different planes of movement (for example linear or orbital) depending on the child's needs.

Sometimes, the swing can be used to help calm children who are over stimulated. Linear and rhythmical movements tend to have a calming effect on us. Often times, if I have a child who needs to calm themselves a bit, I will place them on the swing and move it slowly. (Think of how many mothers have used rocking chairs to soothe a child...same concept).

In this video, I am teaching Chief to get used to the moving platform swing in preparation for him sitting on the swing with one of the kids. My goal is for him to be comfortable with being on the swing independent of me and the child either sitting or laying with him.

This is only the 3rd training session on the swing...and this was after having a week off from training. Shows you how quickly Chief has learned to trust me and enjoys his training. He really has an enormous amount of trust and self esteem that has developed through his training.

Tammy

Chief....Sit on That Child :)

No, Braydon is not in trouble and Chief is doing what he's been asked to do.

Our clinic works with many children who have sensory processing dysfunction. Many of these children have difficulty regulating their sensory systems, which means that all of the sensory information that they receive in their central nervous system is processed incorrectly, usually resulting in behavioral and/or emotional reactions. A child can be hyper or hypo sensitive to sensory information. One way that we help our kids to regulate their systems better is to provide opportunities for calming their systems. What I mean by this is that we provide the child with activities that will help the child receive sensory information to the joints in their body, which has a calming effect. This is usually done through deep pressure, such as given them a bear hug or providing joint compressions.

This photograph illustrates a way that the dog can be incorporated into sensory integration therapy to provide deep pressure for calming. Normally, the therapist would be laying over the child. The pressure is dispersed across the surface area of the bean bag chairs and provides pressure to more areas of the child's body.

Chief has now been taught to help with this very important SI activity...and quite frankly, he likes it!!! Braydon commented that he could feel the vibration of Chief's panting through the bean bag...and that he thought it felt good on his body.

Since teaching Chief to do this, we have used it with several of our children who were needing some calming strategies, all with a positive response following this technique.

Looks like Chief has a new behavior to add to his "toolbox".

Tammy

Ecuador Learns About Therapy Dogs

While most of you were sleeping from the triptophan from your turkey dinner this Thanksgiving holiday, I was on my way to the southern hemisphere with my colleagues from Fundacion Bocalan (based out of Madrid, Spain) to introduce the concept of service dogs and therapy dogs to Ecuador. I think, subconsciously, I was smelling turkey every where I went.

This was an exciting trip for me, as we are doing ground-breaking work in Latin America, and to be asked to be a part of something so large was an honor. Much of South America have very few laws protecting animals, let alone opportunities to provide such a wonderful resource for persons who have mobility challenges. Lead by Bocalan president, Teo Mariscal, we presented information on the importance of the human animal bond, the benefits of service dogs to people with disabilities, and the wonderful and exciting work of therapy animals. Our mission was to provide learning opportunities to interested healthcare professsionals, university students (which included veterinary students), and dog trainers so that programs may be started in Ecuador. A group based out of Quito, Ecuador, called Can y Cultura, is the group leading this expedition, and they are very excited about the possibilities.

Some observations that I made as an OT really impressed upon me the importance of Bocalan's work. In South America, it is very evident that the environmental barriers for people with disabilities are immense. Looking at the streets of Guayaquil, where the conference was held, I noticed very few people in wheelchairs. I also noticed that few streets had accessibility for wheelchairs. Then, as far as moving safely around the community, the traffic in Guayaquil was scary! Pedestrians do not have the right of way...not at all!! Imagining a service dog trying to assist their human partner across the street sent me into an anxiety fit.

But this is offset by other quaint towns, such as Cuenca, where you see curb cuts in the street and pedestrians are respected. In this town, I could see service dogs working.

I think it will be a long road for such programs and laws protecting these dogs, as well as changing the mindset...but I think it can be done. And, with Bocalan and Can y Cultura working together....I know it will be done.

I want to thank Fundacion Bocalan, yet again, for inviting me to help in this work. I look forward to more opportunities.

Tammy

Leya and Chief Play Ball

Leya enjoys watching Chief chase toys, so we've used this while at the same time, targeting other goals for therapy. In physical therapy, Leya is working on strengthening activities and postural control. In this video, she is using her gait trainer to increase weight bearing to her lower extremities while she uses her communication device to indicate her needs. For occupational therapy, I am wanting her to actively move her upper extremities to use her device or indicate with her hands her choices. She uses some simple signs, such as "more" and "all done" to indicate her needs. Both of these signs require the use of both hands, so we are also addressing bilateral coordination.

What is not shown in this video (because the photographer--me--forgot the camera during one of her BEST therapy sessions) was Leya doing some AMAZING things while watching Chief. Below is a synopsis of that remarkable session.

Leya has been having months of therapy sessions where she is more focused on her mother than playing, so getting her to actively participate in her session has been HARD! But this session with Chief was the exception. She tolerated being placed on her stomach over a bolster for 10 minutes (before she wouldn't tolerate a minute of this). She also wanted to see Chief jump over his obstacle course jump. When I asked her if she wanted to see him jump low or high (and I gestured for low and high), she raised BOTH arms way above her head to indicate high--a FIRST during our sessions. Then, when she was ready, she used her communication device accurately to tell us "do a trick please". Lastly, she didn't shed one tear the entire session. She was laughing and carrying on in such an amazing way. Meanwhile, Chief's poor tongue was hanging out because he was tired from jumping so high...so many times!!

That, folks, is the impact of AAT on these children's lives.

Tammy

Pals

In The News....

Photo by Steve Traynor, Killeen Daily Herald

Children gain confidence, skills with animals' help

(Killeen Daily Heral)

Posted on: Wednesday, November 14, 2007
By Candace Birkelbach

Killeen Daily Herald

Three-year-old Leya Sudler spends time with a golden retriever service dog every week to develop her vocal skills. Thursday morning, Leya pronounced the dog's name, Chief, for the first time. This may not seem like a big accomplishment for a 3-year-old, but saying this word meant doubling Leya's vocabulary. Leya has cerebral palsy and has only said two or three words in her lifetime. During her therapy sessions, Leya uses a device that gives commands to the dog and enables her to learn the power of speech, said Kelly Barr, owner and director of Kidz Therapeze in Killeen.

Kidz Therapeze is a pediatric-therapy facility that provides children with the play-based environment they need to learn, Barr said. The facility caters to a large number of neurological disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy to autism. Walking into Kidz Therapeze, children are greeted by vividly colored walls adorned with huge murals and butterflies hanging from the ceiling. The 32 therapists at the facility are licensed in occupational, speech and physical therapy. All are contracted by Barr and choose their own caseloads.

"It's like they have their own individual practice," Barr said. She said that when therapists have more freedom, they will come up with creative and innovative ideas.

One example is the recent addition of the therapy animal program. Five animal/owner teams recently were certified for use in complex environments such as the Kidz Therapeze clinic. Dogs are being paired with patients according to their team skills, strengths and endurance.

"It's a gem to have them here," said Tammy Renaud, the occupational therapist in charge of the pet program. Renaud said she has worked with other animals besides dogs, including miniature horses, lamas, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Renaud said it was incredible to hear Leya pronounce Chief's name. Barr said Leya is heavily motivated by Chief, who has a great impact on her speech therapy. Leya's mom, Rhiannon Garcia, said Leya starts making barking noises when they pull into the Kidz Therapeze parking lot.

Garcia said the clinic is well-equipped with plenty of activities for the children. "They have everything you can think of here," Garcia said. "You have fun here and play while doing therapy." On their first visit to the therapy center, children sit down with the therapists, who recommend a treatment plan, Barr said. The children must come to the facility after being diagnosed by a doctor. When Leya first came to the facility, she was very shy and would not talk to the therapists, Garcia said. Now, she plays with everyone and all her skills have improved, she explained.

Zeus – a docile 170-pound mastiff – is another dog the clinic uses for therapeutic activities. Since Zeus is so massive, yet calm, he is used to relax the children with his heavy, rhythmic breathing. Barr said therapists sometimes lay children with spinal problems on the dog to help use different muscle groups. Brylynn Quin, a 1-year-old girl with spina bifida, had her first therapy session with Zeus on Thursday. Brylynn at first seemed more interested in putting shoes on her hands than playing with the dog. Eventually, she climbed up onto Zeus's back with pink shoes still on her hands. Brylynn was able to climb on and off Zeus mostly through the use of her own muscles. Misti Quin, Brylynn's mother, said she could not roll around like most children her age before coming to the clinic. "Now she can crawl, stand, roll and is a lot stronger," Quin said.

Barr stressed the importance of the therapy being about something the kids can relate to. "You have to look at their current life role," Barr said. She explained that the therapy must address what is going on in the child's life at that moment. "There are different goals with each activity," Barr said. Some children work on a Kids Newsletter that helps them work on specific skills they are having trouble with. "It's a lot like schoolwork, but goes beyond what a teacher would do," she said. Each year the clinic also makes Christmas cards, and the profits are sent to the child's choice of charity. The children delegate the entire process of making the cards, Barr said. They research charities, design the cards and sell them to parents. Barr said there is also a sense of community felt by patients and their parents. Many times, the patients have the same appointments each week so they get to know the other people in the waiting room, Barr said. Barr said her ultimate goal is to have no waiting list for children who seek therapy from the clinic.

Contact Candace Birkelbach at candaceb@kdhnews.com or call (254) 501-7553

Leya and Chief Play Ball

As Chief and I entered the room today to the cheers of "It's Chief!!", we heard one little voice afterward that we had heard in limited use before....usually just saying "Momma". This little voice cheered out "Chieeeee". That's right...Leya said Chief's name for the first time today, on her own, without any prompting from the therapists...and her mom was present to witness it!! We were all so taken back by what happened that we stopped for just a minute, before one of us said..."did she just say Chief?" The slow little smile on her face confirmed it!! Leya was telling us she was happy to see her new friend!!

In this video, Leya is instructing me to throw the ball for Chief using her switch devices and also instructing Chief to "go get the ball". We had tried to get Leya to throw the ball, but she was reluctant to do it. But, she did get a big kick out of watching Chief run across the floor. So, in this video, she is working on weight bearing through her legs in her standing frame while she uses a switch to functionally communicate with us, and using her hands to make her choices.

Way to go Leya!!

Tammy

Lukas's First Therapy Session

Jumpstart Therapies would like to congratulate Lukas and Karin on their first therapy visit today!! Lukas was GREAT and seemed to enjoy working with Jonathan. Jonathan LOVES dogs, and he and Lukas became instant friends. Lukas even learned a new trick for Jonathan today...going across an obstacle course of benches and other large plastic puzzle pieces that Jonathan arranged for him. Jonathan is working on motor planning, and one aspect of motor planning is to be able to teach/tell someone else how to perform a task. Jonathan first told Lukas, then demonstrated it, and watched as Lukas completed the course. Both did very well!! Good job, boys!!!



In this video, Jonathan is helping groom Lukas, because as you can see, Lukas has a lot of hair to keep up with. He is also working with speech and language pathologist, Stephanie Kozeny while working.



We look forward to seeing this Pet Partner team in the near future. Good first day!!!

Tammy

Motor Planning

Many of the kids we see in therapy have difficulty with motor planning, or the ability to plan and execute movement activities. Sometimes they aren't able to figure out how to move their bodies to perform a certain task, while other times they have difficulty explaining to someone else how to perform a task. This young boy, Jonathan, has difficulty with both aspects of motor planning.

In this video, Chief and his willingness to participate in obstacle courses, is a way to motivate Jonathan to work on this specific skill. First, Jonathan set up an obstacle course. Then, he had to tell Chief and me how to move through the course. As you will see, he does this as he moves through the course himself. Lastly, he has to make sure that Chief goes through the course correctly. This is a very simple course, but for Jonathan, this is a big step in the right direction.

Tammy

Chief Wants More Treats, Please

Children with speech or motor delays may sometimes use augmentative communication devices to communicate their needs. There are many such devices on the market, varying in the skill level needed and communication ability.

In this video, the speech and language pathologist, Kerri-Lynn is working with Leya using a Dynavox(TM) to teach her how to push the different picture buttons on the screen to indicate her choices. Kerri-Lynn and Leya have been working with this device for several weeks now, and Leya is learning the concept. However, as is the same with other functional tasks, we are finding it difficult to motivate Leya to communicate her needs to us. She has demonstrated consistent ability to make choices when presented, and she has also used different vocalizations to indicate her needs. However, when she is getting ready to attend school, she will need to have more functional means of communicating, and Kerri-Lynn has begun to teach her that process now. Leya likes the Dynavox and enjoys being able to "say" what she wants.

Kerri-Lynn has programmed different choices related to the dog on the Dynavox. Some of the choices include "treats", "sit", "down", "pet", "paw", and "go get it". These are all behaviors that Chief performs well, except the "treat" selection. That is to tell us that she would like to give Chief a treat--one of her favorite things to do with Chief.

Chief is also using a communication device called a "Big Mack". This is a simple switch device that is activated when the large colored button is tapped. Typically, this is used with children who have motoric difficulties and need a relatively large target to hit. The Big Mack also allows for a message to be recorded to indicate choice or communicate to someone a specific need. The message recorded into the device for this scenario is "more treats please".

Our goal for this activity is for Chief to foot tap the Big Mack to indicate his need--that he would like more treats from Leya. Leya is to then indicate to me or one of the other therapists that she would like to give Chief a treat by choosing her button on her Dynavox. I am modeling this by offering Chief a treat each time he taps his Big Mack. As you can see, his training on this behavior has really progressed. The minute he sees the device, he is eager to offer the behavior. Additionally, earlier this week, Chief created a totally new behavior with the Big Mack by sitting next to a bench, where the Big Mack was sitting, and tapping it with his paw. This is now how we expect him to activate the switch.

What I find most fun about this video clip is Chief's enthusiasm to use the button and the appropriateness of his foot taps to activate the switch. When Leya doesn't respond quickly, he taps again, as if to get her attention and say..."hey, I really, really, really want a treat!!"

Watch, I think you will enjoy it as much as I do!! Make sure you have your audio turned up so you can hear the devices "speaking". That's what makes this a priceless video.

Again, I'm so proud of my boy!!
Tammy

Leya Spoils Chief with LOTS of Treats

This little sweetie is Leya. In this video, 3 different disciplines are co-treating with Leya. The physical therapist, Dana, is helping Leya with postural control. Her speech therapist, Kerri-Lynn, is helping Leya with communication, and I am her occupational therapist. We are working on getting objects out of large containers, grasping them, and releasing them. By having her reach across her body for treats, we are also working on crossing midline of the body. By sitting with her feet dangling off the bench, we are also addressing sitting balance. So many things are being treated with this one activity of feeding treats to Chief. THis is also the young lady we want to use the jelly bean switch with Chief.

Foot Target to Jelly Bean Switch

In this video, I am asking Chief to foot target to a "switch", which is an augmentative device that is used for several purposes. A foot target is one way that a dog can indicate a choice. It is basically a "touch" behavior, only using their foot instead of their nose. I am teaching this for other purposes, as well. For communication, devices like this are used to teach children to activate different electronics as a "cause and effect" mechanism. For a child who has difficulty controlling their motor movements or do not have adequate functional hand use, they can trigger this switch to turn on by hitting the large green button. There are some of these same type of switches that have the ability to have a small phrase or story recorded into them, and they are used as communication devices.

For this particular behavior, we are hoping to have Chief trigger his switch (one that will have a phrase recorded into it) that will say something such as "more treats". The young girl in the previous video is learning to use a different type of communication device called a Dynavox. We are hoping that Chief can model the behavior for her to trigger her communication device to say the same phrase. The reason: she likes to feed Chief treats but refuses to use her sign language for "more" to tell us her needs. Instead, we would like her to use a more functional approach to expressing herself by using her communication device. In the end, we are hoping that Chief can motivate her to use her communication device more frequently...as she LOVES Chief! Mom says she sees our sign for our building and starts to make sounds like a dog when she pulls into the parking space. A true testament to Chief's power to draw kids into his world...and he's still in training!!!

Congratulations, Jennifer and Annie!!

Way to go, Little Mamacita!!!

We would also like to congratulate Jennifer Pawling and her new Pet Partner, "Annie"! These two also successfully passed their evaluation to work in a pediatric environment today. Jennifer is a Speech and Language Pathologist with Kidz Therapeze. She hopes to use Annie with her children as a means of motivating speech and language development. I have no doubt in my mind that this will happen. Annie is a little bundle of confidence and love, just ready to share it with anyone and everyone!!! We are very excited about the potential for this team, as Jennifer is a very energetic therapist with lots of great ideas for working with children! I know these two will be a wonderful asset to the clinic's AAT program!!

Look for updates on Little Orphan Annie in the near future!! Congratulations, you 2!!!

Tammy

Congratulations Sean, Paula, and Zeus!!!

Help us welcome a Pet Partners family, Sean and Paula Morganti, and their Bull Mastiff, Zeus!!! They successfully passed their Pet Partners evaluations today, and we are very excited to officially add them to our AAT team. Zeus and Paula, COTA (certified occupational therapy assistant) have been doing work with special needs children at Kidz Therapeze and are just amazing to watch! Zeus is "rock solid" and extremely excited to be around people. His patience and tolerance is amazing!! Paula and Sean have done an excellent job in preparing Zeus for this line of work, which is obviously his "calling" in life.

We're excited to also include Sean in our AAT team. He shares his wife's love and passion for working with children with special needs, and it's wonderful to see this family in action!! We look forward to seeing more from them in the future!!

Congratulations!! We've all been "Zeus'ed" (If you don't know Zeus, this typically means he's slobbered on you...but in this case, it means his wooed us with his charm!!!).

Welcome, officially, to the team!!
Tammy

Zeus Accepting Crowded Petting During Pet Partners Evaluation

Congratulations Karin and Lucas!!!

Karin Smith and "Lucas" are just one of Jumpstart Therapies newest Pet Partner team members. They passed their evaluation today and are in the process of completing their registration now!! Lucas is a Great Pyrenees mix, and just one big bundle of happiness!! Karin is Office Manager for KidzTherapeze, in Killeen, TX, and is very excited about sharing her passion and love for children and animals with children with special needs. More to come on them in the very near future!!

Please help welcome them to the Jumpstart Therapies team!!

Congratulations, Karin and Lucas!
Tammy

Lucas Gets Congratulatory Pet Following Evaluation

Ring Toss Game

Here, I am teaching Chief to take, hold, and drop a ring near a ring toss game stick. At this point, I am only asking him for dropping it near before I am click and treating his behavior. I will soon ask for more precise drops onto the stick as this becomes more consistent. I am hoping this behavior can be used for children to throw the different colored rings for Chief to retrieve and bring back. He can place the ring on the stick or give it to the child. We can ask the child to ask for specific colored rings or other specific tasks related to the game. I think this can be a fun game for Chief, as he really likes to retrieve.

Watch Closely Chief...Which Cup Is It Under??

This is our version of the "shell game". A treat is hidden under one of the cups. Chief is supposed to select the correct cup. 6/10 times, he chooses the correct one. Watch his eyes, because he is watching the whole time.

Dog Painting 101: The Basics of Holding the Brush Correctly

As an Occupational Therapist, I work with children on visual motor coordination, which includes such skills as handwriting, drawing, painting, and other such activities, that involve controlled motor movements. As I was thinking of activities an OT does in therapy, I was asking myself how to incorporate Chief. Then, I remembered working with other species of animals who paint. I have a painting from a dolphin, a camel, and a walrus hanging in my living room. Why not teach Chief to paint with the children?? So, this has been my new behavior of the week. The first step of the process was trying to figure out how to hold the paintbrush in his mouth. Since Chief is a ball fanatic, I figured it was the most likely thing he would willingly hold in his mouth. We cut a hole in a tennis ball and inserted a paint brush. This video is of Chief learning to take and hold (briefly) the ball with brush in his mouth. The next step of the process is to get him to hold the ball/brush in his mouth without mouthing it for a prolonged period of time. When he is doing that reliably, I will start to position a paint canvas near the end of the brush. This will progress to a slightly wet brush and encouraging head movements. And, finally, the last step will be to get him to make strokes with a fair amount of paint on the brush. I'm very excited about the prospect of this behavior, as it can be a wonderfully engaging thing for a child, who is reluctant to participate in such activities, to do something like this with a dog. Who knows...we may have the first painting therapy dog in Texas... Stay posted for updates on our little Picasso.... Tammy >

Obstacle Course

I have been working on training obstacle courses with Chief for therapy sessions. We frequently use obstacle courses in therapy for several reasons. We teach children concepts of over, under, through, etc. while going through the course. We also address strengthening and other sensory issues with these courses. I think this will be one of Chief's strongest assets in our clinic, as he really enjoys agility courses. As you can see, we've been able to link several different behaviors together to get a pretty nice little course. Even though he is going through the tunnel 2 times in this video, by placing it at the beginning and end of the behavior chain makes it a new behavior for Chief. Not featured in this video is another step to the course I trained today--going up a foam wedge, jumping off, then going through the tunnel.

On Your Mark....Get Set....SCOOT!!!

In this video, Chief is racing 2 children on scooterboards. Both children are working on upper extremity strengthening and are using their arms to move their scooterboards. The challenge for each child is the resistance of the carpeting and the distance...approximately 20ft. Hannah, the girl who is in the orange, had already raced Chief 5 previous times. It's not heard here, but at the end of the race, Hannah stands up and says, victoriously, "I finally beat the dog!!"

Motivating Speech In a 3 year old With Significant Delays

This video clip is of a 3 year old who I am seeing for Sensory Processing difficulties and developmental delays. His name is Cody, and we have been working together for a year. When I first started working with Cody, he had significant difficulty with most areas of sensory processing. He is a sensation seeker, always on the move, crashing, jumping, running, spinning, and has very low muscle tone. Children who are sensation seekers tend to need much more sensory input than other children and usually try any means they can to find that input for their central nervous system to function properly. Often, there are emotional and behavioral responses to sensory needs, because the child has difficulty understanding what is happening in his/her body. Acting out and emotional outbursts are not uncommon. Because of these sensory issues, Cody is delayed in many of his motor skills, another thing that is not uncommon for SPD children.

One of the goals for speech therapy is for Cody to say the beginning syllables of words, as well as put 2 words together. Until 3 months ago, Cody was not speaking in more than utterances of "uhhh uhh uhh" or "mmmmm mmmm mmm". This is how he communicated his needs to everyone around him, including pointing and gesturing for what he wants. However, in the last 3 months, a "light bulb" went off in Cody's brain. He's received speech therapy, and they have worked together diligently. He is now saying simple words and the last syllables of most words. It's quite remarkable!!

I invited Chief into our therapy session for a socialization training session. When I introduced Cody to Chief, he immediately went to him (Cody loves dogs) and Cody said "--ief" while petting him on the head. Cody was very interested in doing things with him. He grabbed his dog toy and dangled it in Chief's face for him to take or threw it across the room. Chief mainly wanted to relax and lay in the room (which is also significant telling me he was attempting to help calm Cody.) At one point, during the session, Cody said to Chief..."--ief Up!" trying to get Chief to stand up. Previously, Cody would have given up trying to say words and reverted back to is utterances. However, because he was so motivated by Chief, he was willing to try something very difficult for him.

As mentioned earlier, Cody is a sensation seeker and always moving. He has trouble focusing on table tasks unless his body is "prepped" for such work by providing him with therapeutic techniques to give his body the sensory information it is seeking. However, with Chief, it was quite different. Cody was able to lay on the ground, next to Chief, and relax for several minutes at a time. While Chief was in the therapy room, Cody was able to sit at the table (Chief next to him) and complete a full task for 5 minutes with very little redirection to task. I felt the occasional pat on Chief's head was appropriate and not a diversional tactic. Rather, it was the child seeking out sensory information, receiving it, and returning to work.

Although our session was only 30 min. in length, much was accomplished in that time frame. The wonderful thing...it was a natural interaction that so many parents can utilize at home with their children with sensory needs. Many families don't realize they have a built-in home program just waiting to be utilized. It just has 4 legs and is another member of the family. :) Tammy
>

Just Relaxing....

Dog Toy Choice Can Facilitate Therapy

When planning a session with a therapy dog, don't overlook the value of the variety of different dog toys. You can facilitate goal attainment with your client simply by choosing the right dog toy for them to use during an interaction.

When I go shopping for dog toys for therapy sessions, I not only consider the dog's interest, but I also consider how the toy can work toward client goals. As an occupational therapist, I am looking for toys that will facilitate hand and finger strengthening, fine motor dexterity, visual motor coordination, sensory processing, self care skills, and more. The wonderful thing about AAT is that one toy or game with a dog can tap into so many areas of functional performance without the client's knowledge, in a fun and motivating way. For many of our clients, they think they are just playing a game with a dog. However, from my professional perspective, I am watching the client increase their range of motion, improve their grasp pattern, reduce their overall muscle tone, and challenge their balance (simply by throwing a toy for a dog to catch/retrieve).

As you can see in the background of this photo, Chief has a large toy collection already. Each toy has been selected for a specific reason. The toy he is playing with is a bone with removable rings that he can pull off. The reason I selected this toy was based on child development. We've all seen the ring stacker toys that toddlers use to learn visual motor coordination. This is a version of that toy. I envision this toy being used in the following fashion. The child (or dog) removes the rings and throws for the dog to retrieve. The child then places them back on the bone. It can also be used by older children for throwing accuracy, color recognition, to improve grasp (holding onto the ring), etc. This one toy has multiple purposes.

I've also selected different colored tennis balls or soft toys so that we can work on color discrimination. The child will be instructed to choose and throw a specific colored toy for Chief to retrieve. Other squeaky toys have different levels of resistance. Some are very easy to squeeze while others are made of more durable rubber and are therefore, more difficult to squeeze. The difference in resistance can be used to facilitate hand strengthening by having the child squeeze the toy to "catch" the dog's attention. Some of the soft toys have different textures on them, making them more useful for children who have difficulties with different textures. If soft and tickly textures are bothersome to this child, we can use toys that have these textures on them to encourage the child to work through this sensory issue in order to engage in activity with the dog.

As you can see, when you choose toys for your therapy session, so much goes into the decision making process. Although it may seem that Chief is very spoiled (which he is...LOL), each toy has been selected for a purpose. At Jumpstart Therapies, no aspect of the therapeutic process is overlooked, even down to the tennis balls!! :)

Tammy

Therapy Dog Identification

Therapy Dogs are considered working dogs, just as a service dog is considered a working dog. However, there are very distinct differences in access to public areas for the two classes of working dogs. Access laws only grant service dogs the ability to full public access. Therapy dogs do not have this access. For therapy dogs, the facility in which they are visiting must grant that team access to specific areas (designated by the facility). For this reason, therapy dog teams must wear proper identification to demonstrate they have been granted access to a facility. Again, therapy dogs DO NOT have the same access rights that service dogs to.

It's very important when working with a therapy dog that you show proper identification for yourself and the dog. This provides the facility and families with information that your team is properly credentialed to be working in that environment. When a dog is in training, it is also important to notify others of the dog's status. At Jumpstart Therapies, our dogs, even those in training, wear vests identifying them as either a "Therapy Dog in Training" or a "Therapy Dog". Since Jumpstart Therapies is affiliated with Delta Society's Pet Partners program, (www.deltasociety.org) once a dog is registered as a Pet Partner, they will be required to wear a Pet Partners vest when working. For dogs in training, we have found these vests at Active Dogs on the Internet. (www.activedogs.com).

There is a definite difference between a dog in training and a registered therapy dog. Expectations for behavior are similar but with a dog in training. Dogs in either situation are expected to maintain an obedient and respectful attitude toward their handler and people with whom they interact. They are also expected to demonstrate self control in distracting situations, as a registered therapy dog would be expected to do. However, with a dog in training, there is the added knowledge that the dog is learning how to respond to different situations and that lapses do occur. In neither situation, should the dog act or react aggressively toward another dog or person. In all situations, the dog is continuously being evaluated for reactions and predictability.

As I work with Chief, I am learning more and more about how he will potentially respond in certain situations. If there is something I know is challenging for him, it is my role as the handler and trainer to provide opportunity for Chief to work through "scary" situations or to avoid the potential for a negative response to occur. Whenever possible, I try to guide Chief through uncertain situations with lots of positive reinforcement, calm, and reassurance. Chief, as I have mentioned before, is a very bright boy. He quickly learns, when guided, that things that once seemed so scary were, in fact, not.

Chief and Sammy

Therapy Dog in Training Motivates Handwriting Assignment

One of the biggest assets of using a dog in therapy is that they motivate the clients to participate in activities. Over the years, I've seen clients who normally refuse to participate in traditional therapy become completely animated and involved in a therapy session with a dog. This same person, who would normally avoid traditional therapy techniques to increase their range of motion will take a brush and brush a large dog from head to tail (accomplishing the task but in a motivating way!). It's quite inspiring to watch!!

I've been seeing a young boy, named Sammy, for over a year now for difficulties with fine motor skills, visual motor coordination, spatial awareness, and motor coordination. Some of the biggest things we are working on involve handwriting and the coordination needed to recreate a design that he sees. Sammy has difficulty with spatial awareness, which translates to difficulty with orientation to the writing baseline or spacing in or between the letters of words. When we started, Sammy reversed many of his letters and didn't even know how to form his letters. he is now writing simple sentences on adaptive paper to help him with spatial awareness.

Over this time, Sammy and I have struggled to get him to the point where he enjoys to write. Previously, handwriting was very difficult for him, and he had difficulties with reversing his letters. After months of visual motor activities and visual perception, we are finally to the point of getting ready to discharge Sammy. But, writing is still one of his least favorite things to do, so I have to find ways to make it interesting for him, so he will do it. I've been letting him choose his own topic, which gives him a sense of self in the assignment, and I've also asked him to increase the number of sentences he writes. We started at 3 sentences, and initially it took him the full 30min. session to write these sentences. Gradually, over the last several months, we have increased the number of sentences and tried to decrease the time, as his parents report that homework takes him literally hours to do. Sammy is easily distracted from task, which is why things often take him so long.

However, when he arrived on Thursday, I asked him if he would mind if Chief joined us in the therapy room. Sammy is a BIG animal lover, and of course, he was very excited. We did the formal introductions between Sammy and Chief, got the excitement for the 2 contained, and then started to work on Sammy's writing. Sammy immediately told me he wanted to write about Chief. He quickly decided the sentences he wanted to write and began his story. After 10 min., Sammy handed me his finished product (pictured above). It was AMAZING!! I had to help him very little with sentence development or even noticing when he made a mistake. Sammy found his OWN errors in his writing (another big feat!!). The only assistance I gave him was spelling unknown words (such as Golden Retriever and Saluki...).

The bottom line of what happened, Chief was inspiration to Sammy to write. Sammy was excited about the dog being in the room and had a story he wanted to share. Because he was interested in the topic, Sammy's focus and attention to task was significantly improved. Research has shown that when we are interested in a topic, we are better focused and more learning occurs. Then, because I had promised him he could do something with Chief when he was done, Sammy was determined to get his assignment done in a timely manner, so he could enjoy some quality time with the dog.

I think Chief had a profound impact on Sammy's therapy session. Good on you, Chief!!! :)

Tammy

Chief's Beginning Agility Training

This video is of our training session where I am teaching Chief to jump over the agility jump and to crawl under it. My future goal for these behaviors is to have him participate in obstacle courses with the kids or to have the child instruct Chief on the concept of "over" and "under". If we really want the child to experience these concepts, we will have the child perform this alongside Chief as he is doing the behavior. Of course, there are other ways we can utilize these behaviors, but those are the easiest to explain in written format.

This last week has been slower than before, mainly because I was out of town. But, I have to say, Chief is one smart little cookie and remembered much of what I did with him before the break. At present, Chief knows several behaviors: spin, "place" (go to your bed), over (jump over the jump), under (go under the jump), up (get onto a piece of furniture), touch (place his nose onto an object), "go get" (retrieve an object), "drop it" (release the object), sit, down, stay, close (walk close to handler), scoot (get on belly and crawl forward), tunnel (go through an agility tunnel), paw (give paw to handler), jack (pick up his soft toy jack), ball (pick up his ball), and he is learning more and more each day. Chief learns things quickly, and within several repetitions, has the behavior with about 75% accuracy. If he performs the behavior several times a day, including in a new environment, he has it mastered within several training sessions.

I think the funniest thing about working with Chief is that he is very much like a child with ADHD. He gets bored quickly, likes things fast paced, and gets a little upset if he has to do the same thing more than 5-6 times. On several occasions, he has literally whined and barked if he is bored with a behavior. This is usually when I know...HE's GOT IT! It's very much like him saying..."oh my gosh lady...not again!!" I don't really want him to do this (but I can't help but chuckle to myself as it is happening). Meanwhile, outwardly, I am not reinforcing the barking, with hopes that it will not continue without reinforcement. Many thanks to Becky at Texas Hearing and Service Dogs for this pointer...because I was reinforcing it without realizing it, thus creating my own little nightmare!! :)

Tammy

A Retired Therapy Dog Makes an Encore Performance

This is my eldest Golden Retriever, Xena, who was probably the most wonderful therapy dog I have ever had the pleasure to know. She and I worked together in Galveston, TX at Hope Therapy, where I coordinated their Animal Assisted Therapy program. Now, at the age of 10, she is making an encore visit!!

It was wonderful to see Xena excited about returning to "work". As we entered the skilled nursing facility where I work, she trotted alongside me, tail in the air and wagging, and a big "grin" on her face. As is typical of Xena, as each client came into our therapy room, Xena was the first to greet them with a wag of her tail and a sniff of their hand. As you can see here, Xena likes to be with people and really enjoys love and attention. Another trademark Xena behavior is to carry around a soft toy in her mouth. Here, she's managed to find Chief's toy and proceeded to bring it to each resident for them to throw.

It's always hard to retire a therapy dog such as Xena, but the decision was made that she was getting older and starting to develop arthritis. Visiting people on slick floors runs the risk of slipping for her, and I was not willing to take that risk for her. I retired her about 2 years ago, but as you can see...it's in her blood!!

If you look at the pictures on my website and see pictures of Golden Retrievers, most likely they are pictures of Xena at work. Take a moment to look at her in action....I am quite proud to say that she is my dog!

Tammy

Chief Woo's the Veterinary Clinic

Therapy dogs must be in very good health to visit with clients in different settings. There are specific health standards that must be followed for the dogs to enter different facilities. Jumpstart Therapies follows the guidelines established by Delta Society's Pet Partners program (www.deltasociety.org), which is a world renowned visiting animal program. Although it is not required, bi-annual veterinary visits are recommended to ensure that the dog is not only up to date on vaccinations but also make sure it does not have any major health concerns. Typical health standards only require annual visits, but I feel strongly that it is my responsibility to the people we visit to make sure our dogs are in excellent health. As you know, there are diseases that can be passed from humans to animals and animals to humans. One of the goals of these health standards is to prevent such transmissions.

Prior to adoption, Golden Beginnings made sure that Chief was current on his vaccinations. This visit with Chief to the vet was to establish him with the clinic and to get his flea and heartworm preventative. As you can see...Chief had a GRAND time!! He was self-assured and quite brave to go into the back with the staff for his heartworm test...I was so proud of him!!

Okay, Chief....let the ladies get back to work!!

Tammy

Crate Training

I know, I know, I know....maybe this is a little excessive...but I was just showing him how this soft crate is so spacious!! Believe it or not, in the previous picture, my 2 other golden retrievers were trying to get in here with us. We managed 2 1/2 dogs, plus me! Now THAT'S roomy!!!

I think having a dog that is crate trained is important. The crate can serve several purposes: a place to make sure they are safe when you are gone; a way to give the dog privacy in a busy environment; and a way to facilitate house training and introduction of other pets.

Luckily for me, Chief had already been crate trained by his previous owners...so the process was easy to re-introduce. A few simple sessions with the clicker, and he goes right into his "house". His previous owners had used the phrase "go to your house", and he still responds to that with good reliability. We did learn, however, that Chief has a bit of separation anxiety in newer environments (something which I am hoping to help overcome with increased exposure and socialization). Let's just say, better reinforcement on the zippered door is necessary. We've since decided that a hard kennel or wire kennel is more appropriate in the office. (Sorry Kelly--it was a brand new kennel that he pushed through. The one featured here is my travel kennel for one of my Goldens. He and I were just playing around in this photo.)

Tammy

Who Said Baths Were in the Contract??

Well, Chief....sorry, but yes, baths are in the contract. Look at the fine print; you'll find it. It's right next to the bones and chewies clause.

Bathing is part of your training process, Chief. We need to know that baths won't stress you and the reason is simple. Our therapy program follows the policies and procedures of the Delta Society's Pet Partner program. Their standards state that prior to every visit, a dog must demonstrate proper grooming and health standards. This means, that within 24 hours of a visit, you will need a bath. When we look at stress levels and the dog's management of stress, we start with the entire preparation process, including the bath. Some dogs become so stressed during baths that the effects last for several hours to a day later. If the dog is already under stress before visiting, the likelihood of an incident occurring or the dog not enjoying the visit is increased significantly. But, if the dog is more comfortable with baths, we still have to consider the potential stress but it is less likely to carry over into the therapy visit.

If you have a dog who is reluctant to take a bath, treats are always a good starting point. I have just reinforced getting into and out of the bathtub quietly and calmly with clicker training and turned that into a training sessions. For some dogs, it's the slippery tub that causes concern. A bath mat under the dog can help reduce this stress. For other dogs, it is the water. Positive reinforcement of standing in the tub with water running can be the next step. I've also given treats during baths for good behavior and a relaxed body posture. The last step of the process would be having a treat at the ready for when he/she has successfully completed the bath. Several treats or a "jackpot" can help make the once negative situation positive.

So, Chief, get used to it buddy! You're going to have a few more of these in the coming days!

Tammy

Learning the "Obstacles" of Therapy

Chief and I spent some time in our therapy gym, getting used to some of the equipment and making up our own games. Chief is learning fast that things aren't as scary as initially thought. It's fun to watch him explore the room, nose something, wait for the reaction, then mentally tell himself..."see, it's no big deal" as he prances around.

Today, while we were in the gym, I used the opportunity to expose him to some of the obstacles that we use when our kids move through obstacle course. Here we are practicing going over a jump, using the command "over", with the eventual goal of me being at a distance from Chief as he maneuvers the jump himself. I'm working on basic agility course with him, hoping that when he's in therapy, he and the child can go through the course together. This photo was staged, as the camera was not cooperating with us and Chief was losing interest in the jump. Who said technology was to make things more convenient???

By the end of our session, I was able to take Chief off leash, set him up about 5 feet behind the jump in a sit position and give the command "over". He would jog alongside me, and go over the jump without me having to go with him. The last time, he cleared it with a little twist and attitude at the end...almost his own little "tah-dah", which earned him a HUGE jackpot!!!

I can't say in words just how fun this dog is to work with. His energy and attitude (outside the occasional bossiness during training when he gets bored) is really intoxicating!! Chief is just a joy to have around this clinic. Again, I thank Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue for steering us toward this little (well, big) guy. He's truly a amazing!

Now, if I could just get him to clean up his toys.....(maybe next week!) :)

Tammy

This Training Stuff is Fun But Exhausting!!

Kids Ride What???

Tammy...what is that scary thing??????

Today's lesson....riding toys!!

An important aspect of the training process is making sure the dog is comfortable around different equipment they may encounter in a rehabilitation environment. In a hospital setting this may include walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen and other medical equipment, sliding doors, elevators, etc. The same is true in a pediatric setting, but the equipment may change form a bit. Much of what we do in pediatric therapy is play therapy, involving the use of different types of children's equipment (seen here). I chose this scooter because it is used often, has moving parts, makes noise, and quite frankly, is the only toy that could fit me!

To make it a positive experience, I clicked and treated Chief each time he initially looked at me while on the toy, then when he moved closer to me on the toy, and finally, when he was relaxed and interacting with me while on the toy. As he learned it was fine stationary, we advanced to the toy moving around him. At first, he was hesitant, but the treats and thought of getting a treat soon won over the thoughts of this "scary thing" attacking him. One thing I can say about Chief...once he accepts something as "okay", it truly is! He was acclimated to this toy in less than 10 min, and when shown it again later, he wagged his tail and sniffed it. That reaction earned him another treat.

We will do this process with many of the toys and equipment we use in our therapy gym, as that is where he will be working the majority of the time. I think that Chief will accept them as quickly as he did this toy. I'll be there to help him along the way.

I think he likes this style of learning!!

Tammy

Goodbye and Good Luck!!

Today, I wished an old friend well in her new adventure! Onyx, my first foster dog, has been matched with her human partner, Hannah. I had the privilege to see the two work today...and it was the most rewarding (and yes, sad) moment of my life! Since that little black bundle of energy came into my life, just the mere mention of her name brings joy to my face. Onyx has a heart unlike any other...she's a very unique little individual. To see her so happy, and knowing that she is happy doing what she was put on this Earth to do...makes me immensely happy!

Onyx, I will always cherish those moments when you snuck up onto my bed and snuggled with me as I slept...waking me to large back feet in my face and a little pink belly waiting to be rubbed. I will remember our trips to Home Depot with a little smile on my face, as you tried so hard to be patient! I know...it was hard for a girl on the go!!! You are the eternal "hover-er".

Now, you are off to new adventures...and I wish you luck! Hannah...you will be the PERFECT partner for Onyx!

Love always to you both!

Tammy

Learning the ABCs of Therapy

AAT in Action!

I am constantly amazed at the creativity level of my colleagues. This photo is Paula, our COTA, who is working with a young girl with developmental delays. She is working on developmental positioning with this child, as well as developing protective extension and prone extension. Prone extension is usually what we call "superman" position or flying. It helps develop core and back strength. Protective extension is the ability to protect oneself if our body falls to one side (forward, side or backward). As we grow and develop, this protective mechanism develops. However, when children with developmental delays don't through the developmental milestones, this protection is sometimes not developed, as well. It is an essential mechanism for keeping us from being hurt. Instead of using a bolster, as we would traditionally, Paula has decided to use Zeus. That....is creativity at it's finest!!!

Training Time = Watch Everything!

What goes into training a therapy dog??

That is the question of the week. I wish I could sum it up in one concise sentence, but I can't. Training a therapy dog does not happen overnight, and it takes the right kind of dog with the right kind of temperament. There are many aspects of Chief's training that I would like to discuss, but for this post, I will limit it to temperament.

The biggest thing that we look for in a therapy dog is their temperament. Although obedience is essential, temperament is a MUST! When selecting a therapy dog, you want to select a dog that inspires confidence in the people who interact with him. You also want a dog who is predictable and controllable. A dog who shy away from touch, avoids interaction with people, or has no interest in engaging in interactions is not appropriate for therapy. You want a dog who enjoys being with people, who seeks attention and attempts to engage a person in an interaction, and one that makes a person feel "like they hung the moon" (to quote Chief's foster "Dad"--Chat).

Why is temperament important? Many of the people we visit are experiencing some sort of trauma, change in role, change in situation, loss, or illness. Emotional strains are not uncommon in these instances. Often, the animals during a therapy visit take the person's mind off their situation or return them to memories that bring them joy and happiness. For this reason, you want a dog who will facilitate this emotional response. The dog can help inspire confidence in the person and their perception of what is happening--from their own skill performance to future outlook. A dog who seeks interaction from people has the potential to help a patient (client) improve their self esteem.

The way we evaluate temperament is to see the dog in a variety of environments. I chose to take Chief with me to these 2 facilities to see how he would do. I wanted to see what his response in a novel situation would be, as well as if there were any noticeable differences between the environments. I wanted to see how Chief would handle "scary" things coming at him and how quickly he recovers from stress. The only way to really understand it is to set up simulations or go into the environment.

In both environments, I allowed Chief to dictate his role in the interaction. For the most part, he sat back and observed. I noticed that he was not disengaged from what was occurring in his environment, but he was certainly "taking it all in". From my opinion, Chief seemed more confident in the pediatric clinic than he did at the nursing home. I have given careful consideration to the differences between the two and his responses. This is what I have learned about Chief's temperament:

• Chief needs to feel in control of the interaction. He doesn't like to have someone else decide for him, that he is going to interact. When given the choice, Chief will choose to be with people rather than be away from them. But if he feels that he is being controlled, he pulls away. This is a very important realization to know for the pediatric clinic, as it is often unpredictable. We will need to make sure that we set up the environment in such a way that the interactions can be somewhat controlled and predictable for him.
• I also learned that Chief develops strong bonds....quickly!!! He is already extremely bonded with me. We will have to work on separating from me for periods of time, so as not to develop a separation anxiety. This will involve lots of positive reinforcement for relaxed body positions when I am away from him.
• Chief is SMART! He picks up new behaviors quickly and also becomes quite bored quickly. He will be a good activity dog for our high activity children.
• Chief can recover from "scary" events but he needs a little reassurance. I noticed that loud equipment seems to startle him. I noticed this more at the nursing home than I did at the pediatric clinic. This is something that can be easily managed through socialization and exposure to different things.
• Chief is also sound sensitive. Different sounds seem to trigger a startle response in him. This is something that can be managed through positive reinforcement for response during training.
• One thing that will be harder to manage in his response to non-verbal body language. There are times when different body positions seem to trigger a fear response in Chief. It is a response I have seen in a dog who has been punished for bad behavior. I think this can be managed through positive reinforcement, as well, but is hard to predict. It is evident that Chief wants to please!!!
• The last thing I noticed is very similar to the children I treat who have sensory processing disorder. Many of these kids need activities to "prepare" them for challenging tasks. Chief is no different. I found quickly that a good training session or playing ball in the yard helped him manage within the environment with more success. If we had a short session with the ball, he was much more animated, approaching people, and confident in his own skin in the office. It was as if the activity helped him "shake off" the stress...and this is a good observation!! Having this knowledge, reinforcing it, and providing Chief with this activity prior to (and during) a therapy session will definitely set him up for success!!

I think this discovery process is always the most fun of any new relationship, especially with a dog. You learn so much, and much of what you learn can be managed, if addressed early on. Now that we know some of Chief, we can set him up for success. But, learning is a daily thing...and as we go along, we will make mistakes but also successes!

Tammy

Chief and His Adoring Fans

After our visit to the pediatric clinic, Chief and I made our way to the nursing home (my other job). By this time, he had overcome any uncertainty and seemed just eager to explore the possibilities. As we walked in the door, I could hear the "ooos" and "ahhs" starting...."look at that pretty dog!" or "Tammy...what is that with you??" Chief just trotted along beside me, seemingly aware that he was the center of attention (and I know he was enjoying it!).

Throughout the course of the afternoon, different residents took their turn engaging Chief in his favorite game--toss/catch the ball. This activity was perfect for my treatment session, as most of my residents were working on increasing their upper extremity range of motion or strengthening their arms. People who typically avoid activity because it is discomforting to their shoulders were throwing the ball across the room for Chief to jump and catch. Excitedly (and in his own doggy way asking for more) Chief would chomp the ball as he returned it to me and the resident. After a few re-directions, Chief learned that I wanted him to return the ball to the resident, encouraging them to lean forward (working on postural control and balance) and reach for the ball (working on strength and range of motion). A couple of times, we were able to get Chief to do his "I Love You" for the ball...which erupted the room into laughs and coos of love.

The company of Chief was extremely important to one gentleman, who received news on Thursday that his dog had been taken to the shelter while was recuperating at the nursing home. The last few days since that news had been very traumatic for this man, as his dog was his only companion. A friend had been caring for the dog in his absence and when she arrived to feed him, discovered the gate to his backyard open and the dog missing. A neighbor made her way over to tell this caregiver that, just that morning, Animal Control had picked up the dog. After several phone calls, our resident was able to track down the shelter where his dog was taken and convinced them to hold the dog until he could make arrangements to have a friend pick it up. The reason I say that Chief's presence was important for this gentleman was observed in Chief's careful position next to this man. Despite his position in the corner of the room, Chief made sure that he laid on the floor within reach, so that as he felt like it, the man could reach down and give Chief a little pat. Even though it was not his own dog, this man later told me that Chief had filled that emptiness for the short time that he was there.

That is what Animal Assisted Therapy is all about....!

Tammy

Chief's First Day at Work

When Chief woke this morning, I don't think he had any idea of the fun that was just around the corner. He wandered outside to do his "business", ate his breakfast, and was just settling in to a good "chewie" when I grabbed his leash. Ears perked and attention fully on me, he followed me to the car and jumped into the backseat. Soon, we were on our way to our first adventure.

Our first stop, KidzTherapeze. We arrived about 15 minutes prior to my first patient, just enough time for Chief to gather his bearings, meet the staff, and discover the new stuffed toys waiting for him. Although I had intended to wait a few days to introduce Chief to kids, my planned had a few holes in it. My boss, who was to dog sit while I was in session, hadn't shown up yet, so I had to take Chief into the treatment room with me. Much to my excitement (and yes, surprise), both Chief and the child became instant good friends. Michael (seen here) usually has difficulty with direction following and attention to task, but he was able to maintain focus on the task with the dog for 15 min without redirection--a HUGE accomplishment for Michael. It was a very cute session. Chief looked on as Michael sat on the floor and practiced his mazes and scissor skills. There was mutual interest and respect from both of the "boys". It was a very nice start to his day.

After Michael, we also visited with another young boy who has not been officially diagnosed with Autism, but meets much of the criteria. Together, we sat on the floor with Chief, and I went through Misha's routine of brushing his body with the Wilbarger technique, followed by joint compressions. Misha then proceeded to attempt to brush Chief in much the same manner as I had just done him. I have a song that I sing when I brush Misha ("brush, brush, brush your leg...brush it up and down...brush it here...brush it there, brush it all around"--to Row Row Row Your Boat). Usually, Misha tries to sing the song but his words are intelligible. Today, after I was done brushing him, he took the brush from my hand and began to brush Chief, singing (and I kid you not) "brush brush brush the dog, brush it up and down". It was VERY cute!!

After we were done treating kids, Chief and I did a few training sessions. We practiced retrieving/dropping toys on cue, scooting, and spins. Chief is a quick learner and is showing very quick ability to retain learning from previous sessions. It's very exciting to work with a dog who is a quick learner and will move (yes, I found a way to get past the automatic sit!!)

Next post will talk about Chief at the nursing home.

Tammy

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Chief is enjoying the weekend. We've had a few training sessions, but this is all I have seen all afternoon. It truly is a lazy Sunday afternoon!

Tammy

"Put Treats Here"

As I was chatting with the volunteers from Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue, they showed me something I never knew about Chief or any other dog, for that matter. Chief came with his own instructions.

"The black spot on his tongue...do you know what that means?" they asked me. "It's his instructions. It means 'Put treats here!'"

Now, as we have started his clicker training, I have realized...this is the TRUTH!!! Chief is all about training and learning! The faster you put the treats on that black spot, the more he wants to do. He is a very smart boy who likes his training. The meatier the treat, the better!

Clicker training is a form of training using a box clicker to mark the exact behavior that the trainer wants the dog to perform. It's based on reinforcing consequences of behavior, using positive reinforcement. I started the initial steps of clicker training with Chief and soon realized, he has either had previous exposure to this...or he's one BRIGHT DOG!! Within a few minutes, Chief had a clear understanding of what the sound of the clicker meant, as well as had the basic behavior of "touch" down to a tee. I moved from touching my hand to touching a small target, with the hopes of later translating this to touching an object away from him. Chief also learned a new behavior, called "spin" this morning during breakfast. I had to lure him into the behavior to get him to intially perform it, but within several trials, I was able to fade the lure quite a bit and start to add the cue to indicate the behavior. My initial wondering has now been answered...Chief is a VERY SMART BOY!!

My goal for Chief's training is for him to have a "toolbox" of different behaviors that we can utilize in therapy sessions with children. The behaviors will both functional as well as "tricks" that have hand signals that the patient can give to the dog to perform the behavior. Some of the more functional behaviors include scooting, backing up, climbing onto a table/mat, side stepping, laying down, sitting, crawling, raising a paw, touching an object, opening / closing a cabinet, retrieving objects, holding objects in his mouth, etc. Some of the tricks include play bow, waving, spinning, turning light on/off, jumping hurdles, crawling through tunnels, vocalizing on command, etc. These behavioral repetoire can be used to work on different therapy goals in a treatment session. Sessions will include children who are receiving physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy.

I am hoping that within 6 months, Chief will be ready for his job as a therapy dog. Given his previous training history and his temperament, he may be ready sooner! It will all depend on how well I follow my "instructions" I've been given!! :)

This is going to be a fun adventure!!

Tammy

Arrival of a Therapy Dog

I drove to Houston yesterday to pick up Chief from his foster family. He greeted me at the door, carrying his large red Jolly ball in his mouth, quickly to be traded out for soft toys of different shapes and sizes. His foster "sisters", Trudy and Chloe seemed sad to see their foster brother leave. Chloe and Chief seemed to have developed a bond in such a short time, wrestling and chasing around the floor. It was cute to see the interplay as each would "steal" the toy from the other and bring it to one of us. Trudy (much like my Xena) seemed happy that her house was going to return to normal--but despite this sense of relief, I could tell that Trudy enjoyed the tall, handsome blonde stranger who had invaded their house for such a short time.

I have to say, Chief could not have had a better foster experience than with Chat and Bethany. He was their first foster with Golden Beginnings, and as I watched them interact, it was evident that Chief adored them!! What a wonderful testimony to the caliber of volunteers that Golden Beginnings recruit!! It gave me a sense of comfort knowing that this beloved dog, Chief, was loved and cherished by these two--even if it was for a short time. I give them sole credit for making his transition from the only home he has known into the unknown a wonderful experience. Chat and Bethany, you are truly "Golden Guardian Angels"!

The other amazing thing I have to say about Chat and Bethany...they truly know Chief!! As predicted, as soon as we were out of the drive, Chief was sitting in the front seat next to me, with his paw on my arm. For about the first 5-10 mins., he sat erect in the seat with his brown eyes boaring holes into the side of my head as we drove 610N around downtown Houston. As we veered onto 290W toward Austin, he changed positions so that his head was rested behind my shoulders. I could sense that Chief was sad and uncertain of things, but he never whined or showed any other signs of distress. Together we drove the 2.5 hours, him either nuzzled behind me or with his paw on my arm. He wanted to be close...he needed that reassurance that things would be "okay" in his ever changing world.

As we pulled into my driveway, I strategized how I would introduce my 3 dogs to Chief without him feeling completely overwhelmed. I decided we would have introductions in the backyard, so as I gathered my dogs from their crates, I left Chief in the backyard to explore. Intial introductions were as expected. He was carefully inspected from head to toe by my "girls" and my only male dog, Jinx. Instantly, I could tell that Xena loved him. Her tail was wagging incessently, with her eyes soft and full of "golden love" that is her trademark look. Abbey was a little put off, because Chief didn't bounce around with her as she expected. (Abbey, of course, realizes that the world does revolve around her...and anyone and everyone should automatically realize this fact, too!) Jinx was indifferent...but that's Jinx.

I grabbed some toys and tennis balls for some late evening backyard romping. Abbey happily chased her tennis ball around, while Jinx did his "border patrol" looking for "illegal squirrel/cat immigrants", and Chief and Xena were glued to my side. Despite my efforts, I could NOT get Chief to chase the ball. I had hoped that we could work out some of the "kinks" from the long car ride. By accident, I tossed the ball for Chief and was surprised to find that he had hidden springs in his back legs!! He was a golden/saluki "Air Bud", leaping and flipping for the tennis ball. After about 30 min. of activity, all of the dogs' tongues where hanging out the sides of their mouths, and we went inside.

Our first training project, I have decided, is to acclimate Chief to cats. It became quite apparent that he had never seen them before. Gabriel, my normally talkative, interactive, and friendly cat, gave Chief one dirty look, and Chief was plastered against either myself or the wall. He made a large arch to get away from Gabriel, only to run into Frazier, my happy go-lucky tabby cat. Frazier displayed no interest in Chief, but still...Chief was taking no chances. He scurried to the back of the house, only to come out with coaxing and several food treats. The sadness about this interaction is that as soon as Chief realized the cats were merely bluffing, his lack of interest turned into "ahhh.....something to chase!" The first attempt to grab Gabriel's back leg was indication to me that baby steps toward introduction was absolutely necessary.

My philosophy of cat/dog interaction is that it can be done through persistence, positive reinforcement, and understanding of each party's situation. This was the cat's "turf", and I have to realize that Chief needs to respect that he is invading their space. At the same time, their safety is of my utmost concern. For this reason, the cats were relocated to the office with the door closed for the weekend. Brief interaction periods with Chief in a down position and being offered treats for redirecting his attention to me instead of the cats were the first step in the training process. Chief has also been tethered to me on leash, so that he quickly learns I am the person who he is to listen to, as well as being able to manage the interactions. I do believe that dogs need to establish themselves in the pack, but when you have an established pack, it is also the person's responsibility to help the new dog assimilate slowly.

Our first night ended with 4 very tired dogs and 2 humans squished together in a queen sized bed. I don't think Chief moved all night long. In fact, the several times I woke to check on him, he was in the same sleeping position, belly up, head toward the foot of the bed, and one paw slightly extended up. Not too bad for a first night, eh?

We'll see what morning brings....
Tammy